People with immunodeficiency in Brazil may receive a fourth dose of vaccine four months after the first booster
The Brazilian Ministry of Health announced on Monday, December 20, a fourth dose of the anti-Covid-19 vaccine will be made available. People with an immune deficiency (immunocompromised) over 18 years of age may receive “a booster dose from four months after” the third.
This measure applies to people with severe immunodeficiency, HIV carriers or cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The interval between the second and the third dose will also be reduced. The Brazilian government has also announced the donation of 10 million doses of vaccines to poor countries.
A chaotic set-up
Vaccination in Brazil has accelerated in recent months and more than two-thirds of the population have already received at least two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. But the immunization campaign got off to a late and chaotic start, as far-right President Jair Bolsonaro stepped up attacks on vaccines.
Fascist methods
The head of state, who refuses to be vaccinated, recently criticized the decision of health regulator Anvisa to authorize vaccination for children aged 5 to 11 on Thursday. The controversial president has demanded the publication of the names of the Anvisa members responsible for this authorization.
An association which represents employees of the public agency denounced President Bolsonaro’s “fascist methods” and the regulator’s management on Sunday demanded from the Federal Police (PF) protection for its staff, after having “received threats of violence “. An investigation is underway into new death threats against Anvisa members, according to Brazilian media. “CNN Brasil” assures us that one of the five directorates of the agency alone has received more than 130 threats since last Friday.
More than 617,000 people have died from Covid-19 in Brazil, the second most bereaved country in the world after the United States.
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